Brides Against Breast Cancer is a wonderful group created by the folks at Making Memories. Each year they have a wonderful gown sale featuring amazing designer dresses at even more amazing prices. Proceeds from the sale of these gowns goes towards winning the fight against breast cancer.

Volunteers are needed in every city from Seattle to Tampa. Kick-off beings Friday, January 11th in Seattle and runs until October 12th in Port Townsend, WA. Please visit their website for detailed information on the sale and also how to be a volunteer.

The Pink Envelope Project is also in conjunction with Making Memories. This group encourages donations through distribution of Pink Envelopes at your bridal shower, reception, and more. They will even provide you with the envelopes and instruction cards for your guests. Don't miss this oppurtunity to make a difference.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Many girls find themselves in a whole new world after becoming engaged. There are hundreds of bridal magazines, websites, and of course married friends and family to offer their opinions. As we know times have changed, and what worked for Aunt Edna in the 60's probably isn't going to work for you.

There is a huge difference between the "cookie cutter" bridal stores and full-service bridal salons. I know, I currently work in one. I've seen countless brides come into our salon after visiting a nameless "cookie cutter" complaining about lack of attention and concern for them. Sadly, these consultants are stretched to their limits by expecting to take care of multiple brides at one time. They are also pushed by managers to do whatever it takes to make the sale that day.

When stepping into a bridal salon, you should feel a difference in the air after visiting one of the above. While they may be smaller, they offer one-on-one attention which often requires an appointment but for good reason. A consultant will take the time to listen to your dreams for your gown, review photos with you, and allow you to pull dresses of your choice. They might have some ideas based on what you've said and grab those for you as well. They are educated on gown design, materials, and the designers they carry. More often than not, the designers in bridal salons are open to changes in their gowns. So your dream of having a sweetheart neckline on that v-neck dress can often times be a reality. These dresses are also custom ordered and are not off the rack. Turn-around time for these gowns are between 4-6 months so plan accordingly. Rushes can be added to orders but be prepared to pay a minimum of $200.

Full-service bridal salons also offer in-house alterations, accessories, and much more. Consultants will measure you on the spot after placing an order and review the designers size chart with you to choose the size that best fits your measurements. Some will house your gown until your wedding date at no additional cost as well as press your gown for free. Be sure to ask before buying!

Beware of bridal salons that include alterations in their pricing. Maybe your dress comes in and all you need is a bustle, which may only cost $150. ABC Bridal Salon added $500 to the cost of that dress shown on the tag to include alterations. You just cost yourself $350, which could help you hire a wedding coordinator or increase your floral budget!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

After walking down the aisle 27 times as a bridesmaid, a young woman wrestles to stand by her sister who's marrying the man she's secretly in love with.

You must be 21 years of age or older (so you can enjoy the yummy cocktails!) and reside in Atlanta, Dallas, or New York. Tickets are limited to the first 250 people. The event takes place on January 10th, 2008. For more information and screening passes please visit http://www.brides.com/promotions/27dresses

These have to be the cutest and most creative sandals ever! They have everything from breast cancer awareness (My favorite) to football to hockey and even some for wine enthusiasts! The shoes shown at the left are currently 50% off and are selling for just $12! Pick a few up as gifts for your attendants or slip into a pair after your ceremony!

Love, Me is a unique bridal boutique created by celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss. You can find some really special gifts for attendants, splurge on a few items for yourself, or pick-up a brides emergency kit for your big day!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

One of my favorite parts of a wedding is the ending...the deliciously sweet and stunning wedding cake! One of the most sought after and amazingly talented cake designers in the world is Sylvia Weinstock. Her most recognized item, besides her cake, is her adorable black oversized sunglasses. It is her signature!

She has designed cakes for celebrities like Donald Trump & Melania Knauss, The Saudi Royal Family, and Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones. To describe her cakes as amazing doesn't give her any justice. Her beautiful creations consist of delicately hand-made sugar and gum paste flowers that look like they've been plucked out of a royal garden! Mrs. Weinstock even wore them in a hat recently at a friends' wedding.

I've had the pleasure of delighting in one of her creations and it was absolutely fabulous. Now, with all her celeb status you must know the price tags for her savory desserts are quite high. She doesn't only do wedding cakes so a smaller option for a bridal shower, baby shower, or grooms cake is also an option...but be prepared to pay for it!

Sylvia's cakes are treated with world-class care. They are often times hand delivered by Sylvia herself so she can oversee the construction of the cake when it arrives at its destination.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Each Sunday I'll post a few spectacular websites that offer a range of different ideas and items for your wedding...drum roll please...

Wedding Webbies #1 for October 7th

Wifevillehttp://www.wifeville.com/Adorable website that offers the cutest in tees, hoodies, undies, aprons and more that celebrate your soon to be or already wifehood! With tees that say "The Wife is Right" to "Wonder Wife" you're bound to fall in love with something.

Cake Americahttp://www.cakeamerica.com/weddingcakes.aspxCake America offers an extensive gallery of gourmet wedding cakes for your viewing pleasure! Scroll though to find cakes with floral design or intricate patterns. Print out your favorites and take them to your local baker.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

For all you soon to be bridesmaids, I found this fun article on the Dessy/After 6 website!Best GalsWhy Being a Bridesmaid is the Best Gig

(BNN) You've just received the call. Your college "sister" is getting married, and she wants you to be a bridesmaid. Quick--are you flabbergasted or flattered?Let's hope it's the latter. Though it can be a daunting experience to serve such an important role, your friend must really consider you one of her best gal pals, right? So if you think of your duties as a BEST GAL rather than as a servant to the bride, things will go much more smoothly in carrying out your commitment. Here are some surefire tips for being the best "best gal".Be enthusiastic and supportive. As the bride plans her big day, she'll need plenty of backup, both material and emotional, from those she has honored with bridesmaid status. Don't wait to be asked. Volunteer your assistance with some of the more tedious and time-consuming tasks, such as selecting a venue for the ceremony (especially if it is a logistically challenging "destination wedding" far from home); planning bridal showers and bachelorette parties; and, if need be, even addressing invitations. Since many of today's couples create wedding websites to inform invited guests of the details, you can help gather information to keep communications up to date.Expect the unexpected and "come to the rescue". No matter how thorough the nuptial planning, there will always be glitches. That's when a bride's best gals can step in and show their true colors. Maybe the fresh peonies the bride wants aren't in season; so . . . suggest a beautiful silk-alternative flower. Has her future mother-in-law requested that non-alcoholic libations also be served at the wedding reception? Maybe you could recommend fresh and fun alcohol-free cocktails that are tasty, colorful, and perhaps even evoke a romantic theme.Shop for bridesmaids' dresses! Here's where the real fun of being a best gal begins. Although the bride-to-be will have the last word on how the wedding party will look, she will of course want them to play a major role in selecting their dresses, and to be delighted with the choice as well. Thankfully, dress options today are vast and flexible for all personalities and body types. Doing some fashion research on the Internet can help you, as a best gal, with style preferences. At Dessy.com and AfterSixDresses.com, for instance, designer Vivian Diamond's bridesmaid’s dresses are all about soft, feminine, simple silhouettes with draping, layering, or jewel-pin accents. These popular designs, meant to be “wear-again”glamorous evening looks, come in a variety of colors with favorites ranging from claret and shades of pink to aubergine and kiwi. For those who want versatility and flexibility of mixing sizes, colors and patterns, an exciting range of bridesmaids separates and two-piece dresses may be seen on AlfredSung.com Show the bride your taste expertise by recommending a few flattering styles. Once the choice has been made, best gals should help make sure their dresses are ordered far enough in advance to allow time for choosing the perfect shoes and jewelry to wear on the big day.Take time to share the memories. One of the most satisfying fringe benefits of being a best gal is sharing with your best-gal pals--the friendships, stories, important events involved in the wedding. A personal keepsake for the bride and the wedding party will be treasured for a lifetime. One perfect memento, for instance, might be a photo diary documenting everything from dress-shopping and bridal showers to festive bachelorette parties and the rehearsal dinner. You can assemble the pictures in a lovely, small album or--utilizing today's digital technology--make, or have made, a CD of the images. Then, with the latter, you can host an informal "welcome back" party when the newlyweds return from their honeymoon, and play a "slide-show" of the images on your TV set. A get-together of this kind will be much appreciated by the bride. It will likewise renew the wedding camaraderie, and allow the wedding party, along with other friends and family to reconnect with the new "Mr. and Mrs."--and the "best gals" to reconnect with each other.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

It's been almost a week so let me get caught up by posting 2 blogs in one!

It's time for Chicago Market & The DEBI'S!It's that time of the year again! September 29th - October 2nd, all the latest designers and bridal related vendors will take over the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. This is the place for local bridal shops to "shop" designers and take a peek at new collections and upcoming designs. It's also the time for the 2007 DEBI awards. The Distinctive Excellence in the Bridal Industry awards recognizes the best designers in the industry from headpieces, bridal, prom, and more. A good friend of the bridal shop I work at, Matthew Christopher, is up for most innovative designer of the year. GO MATTHEW!

Cake-Cutting FeesQuick tip, please be sure to check with your location/cake vendor to be aware of any cake cutting fees that may be charged. Some locations charge $1 a slice to cut the cake and serve it to guests. The Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando, charges $7 a slice! This can be very costly...imagine a wedding with 100 guests at the Ritz costing you $700 in just cake cutting! WOW! Don't overlook this easy to forget detail.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

If you and your special soldier are heading to Las Vegas to get married or you want to make things official quick before he is deployed...many of the wedding chapels offer free or discounted weddings to service members. Most include use of the chapel, traditional music, silk bouquet and boutonniere, wedding license scroll, and 12 professional photos. Simply reserve the chapel by showing the staff your loved ones deployment papers. If you are not being deployed most offer a 10% discount on other packages!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Some surprising new designers are stepping into the bridal market. Disney debuted their Fairy Tale Weddings Collection by Kirstie Kelly in April of this year. With price points between $1,500-$3,000, many girls will be able to afford a princess gown on their special day. They modeled most of the gowns after characters from popular disney series including Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty, and of course Cinderella. They also have a line for bridesmaids called Maidens which features surprisingly pretty gowns. No word on the quality yet...

Another stunning entrance is Target! Yep, you heard right. Isaac Mizrahi for Target is now in the bridal market. Their prices range from $89-$159. For the bride who is on a serious budget this might be an option. But, beware that most times you get what you pay for. No word on the quality of these gowns either, although they have a moderate rating from users on the Target website.

A typical fee for a wedding and event consultant is 10%-15% of the total budget. Plan on paying your planner at least $1,000 for a $10,000 wedding. It is also customary to include a tip on their services to show your appreciation for their hard work.

Hi everyone!Welcome to my new blog...What's Happening in Weddings! I'll be using this blog to update you all on what's happening in the event industry, give you tips and ideas, and answer your questions. I hope it helps you in planning your dream day!-WedChick-